apple store bellevue square map

Apple's new store in red, Microsoft's store on lower level shadowed in yellow

Last November, Microsoft opened a new 5,000 square-foot retail store in the Bellevue Square mall in the state of Washington near its corporate headquarters, moving in just a few doors down from Apple's slightly smaller store in the mall.

As reported by ifoAppleStore, however, Apple has apparently decided to use its recent strategy of expanding and/or relocating existing stores to take on Microsoft in the Bellevue Square mall. To that end, Apple is moving its retail store to a new location within the mall, doubling its size and taking a position on the second floor away from but still within view of the Microsoft store on the lower level.

Whatever their motive, later this year the Apple store will move, from its ground-floor location that opened in 2003 with 4,600 square-feet, and into a second-level space formerly occupied by three separate retailers. When the move is finished by year's end, the store will double its current size and, most importantly, will be visible to every single visitor leaving the Microsoft store across the hallway and one floor below.

Apple has been making a concerted effort to both build larger stores to help accommodate the large crowds, as well as expand or replace a number of its older, smaller stores that see foot traffic well in excess of desired capacity.

Top Rated Comments

vicorly Avatar
168 months ago
Why people don't go to the Microsoft Store...

Because nobody wants to visit the Excuse Bar.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
donlphi Avatar
168 months ago
Once again, Apple is parked next to a Candle Shop? Waiting in line at those locations is just nauseating after a while. It must be common.

I like the current Apple Store in Bellevue Square. It's busy, and has a good energy about it - like a rock concert. I don't know if it is necessary to go larger than UVillage.

The MS Store is embarrassing to go into. The employees stand in their clicks (similarly to the Apple store employees), but they break into 'spontaneous dance' like it's a terrible sequel to to the movie 'Coyote Ugly'. They make all sorts of awkward eye contact while half-heartedly performing to medium volume music...It goes on for what seems like an eternity.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8 (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8)

Just watching it again makes me cringe. How many employees quit their job after that one?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
168 months ago
I´m surprised Microsoft Store has wall after all
Aren´t they supposed to hate walls? :D
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
packetrier Avatar
168 months ago
Check out Fashion Valley

This seems to be happening often...

At Fashion Valley Mall, San Diego, The Microsoft and Apple stores are in mirrored locations across the entrance from each other.

At the Mall of America, the two stores are directly across from and facing one another.

I say good job Microsoft! This is one of the best executed business decisions I've seen. Show people you can be fun too!.

I recommend all apple users go to the Microsoft store. Play with the Xbox on the big wrap around lcd wall.. oh.. and theirs Windows stuff there too.. if you are into that kind of thing.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VashonOz Avatar
168 months ago

The MS Store is embarrassing to go into. The employees stand in their clicks (similarly to the Apple store employees), but they break into 'spontaneous dance' like it's a terrible sequel to to the movie 'Coyote Ugly'. They make all sorts of awkward eye contact while half-heartedly performing to medium volume music...It goes on for what seems like an eternity.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8 (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8)

Just watching it again makes me cringe. How many employees quit their job after that one?

That IS hilarious and a bit painful to behold. I'd call this yet another Microsoft innovation except that Johnny Rockets hamburger chain already does a similar song and dance.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mingoglia Avatar
168 months ago
What!? People actually go into the MS store. :confused:
I for one don't. I'm less of a Microsoft hater than most on this forum but I still refuse to go to a store that's a blatant rip-off of the original. I shake my head when on the rare occasion I walk past one. The one at the mall I typically go to try to lure people in there by having X-boxes set up with Kinect and the dance game.... does a reasonably good job at luring in teenagers.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18 Will Finally Bring This Android Feature to iPhone

Monday March 25, 2024 6:42 am PDT by
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
iphone reasons to upgrade

Apple Outlines 'Reasons to Upgrade' Your iPhone on New Website

Monday March 25, 2024 12:53 pm PDT by
Apple today added a "Why Upgrade" section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model. The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older...